The things we use and consume may satisfy the first four levels of needs in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, but they will never provide us with the characteristics, outlined below, which help us identify the attainment of self-actualization. Take all the safety, love, etc. you like; for all their importance, they don’t complete the jigsaw that makes up a person – or rather, the pyramid that constitutes the needs within. For this reason, we as designers must focus on how we can support our users in their activities – it’s the only way to meet them on this, the apex of needs. Show
In Motivation and Personality (1954), Abraham Maslow states, "What a man can be, he must be". Maslow's quote refers to self-actualization, which is the highest level or stage in his model of human motivation: the 'Hierarchy of Needs'. According to the hierarchy of needs, self-actualization represents the highest-order motivations, which drive us to realize our true potential and achieve our 'ideal self'. Self-actualization needs are also referred to as our 'being' needs; these include personal and creative self-growth, which are achieved through the fulfilment of our full potential. Maslow studied 'exemplary' people, or individuals considered to have realized their full or near to their full potential in their particular area of expertise or focus. These individuals included Mahatma Gandhi, Viktor Frankl, and Albert Einstein, who "personify a reality of self-actualisation". Characteristics Common in Self-Actualized IndividualsSelf-actualization is the final stage in the linear growth of an individual. Maslow believed that in order to achieve this state of personal fulfilment, the person must first satisfy the preceding needs (i.e. physiological, safety, love/belonging, and esteem, in that order). He contested that self-actualized individuals possess a number of characteristics that enable them to, first, satisfy the four initial categories of needs and, second, to contend with the dissonant relationship between free will (i.e. the supposed capacity to act based solely on our personal drives) and determinism (i.e. the effect of societal pressure and an internal consideration of how we will appear to others and the effects our actions will have on them). Below is a list of the characteristics possessed by self-actualized individuals as outlined by Maslow (1954):
Self-Actualization and DesignThis layer of human motivation represents the toughest nut to crack for designers. It would be fair to say no one product can provide us with an experience or series of experiences which allow us to achieve self-actualization. However, they can facilitate the realization of our true potential. The better products are, the better we can be. Conversely, if the products we are using are inefficient or ineffective, we are obstructed in our efforts to improve and reach our pinnacle. While 'a good workman never blames his tools', when performance on many tasks in the modern world depends on the objects we have at our disposal, the workmen (and women) of today would be forgiven for blaming their tools to a certain degree. Therefore, your products may not satisfy all human needs or carry users to the peak of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, but they can enable and support the process. As the conditions that impinge on or constrain products differ, we cannot isolate any qualities which guarantee the transition from disaffected user to self-actualized human being. However, a bottom-up approach, taking into consideration the factors, qualities, and characteristics that constrain all users (e.g., psychology, perception, sensation, and societal restrictions), can provide the insights necessary for developing products that are sympathetic to the human condition. Design to Support, Facilitate and EnableWeb psychologist Nathalie Nahai states, in her book Webs of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion (2012):
Products that allow us to connect, communicate, learn, and share knowledge have the capacity to improve (and, unfortunately, negatively affect) our lives. The sharing of knowledge is of particular importance; in order for us to reach our true potential, most pursuits require knowledge. For example, if we want to learn a new language, we need resources that help us commit the rules and patterns of this new language to memory. Likewise, keep-fit fanatics may seek dietary information to help them develop a meal-plan so as to achieve their peak physical strength and ensure they maintain good health in the process. Ultimately, design can help self-actualization by obtaining first a thorough understanding of the obstacles and processes involved in attaining a goal and then providing solutions that support the user’s activity in doing so. The Take AwayThe things we use and consume may satisfy the first four levels of needs in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, but they will never provide us with the characteristics, outlined above, which help us identify the attainment of self-actualization – or being the best we can be. For this reason, we as designers must focus on how we can support our users in their activities. Indeed, while we cannot produce any single artifact with which a user can actually achieve self-actualization, we always have the chance to design in order to make it easier for our users to realize their potential. The insights we gather from considering the factors, qualities, and characteristics that restrict all users (e.g., psychology, perception, sensation, and societal restrictions) will be a vital ingredient in helping us make designs that truly chime in with the human condition and the associated needs. References & Where to Learn MoreNahai, Nathalie. Webs of Influence: The Psychology of online persuasion. Pearson UK, 2012. Kendra Cherry (2016) What are peak experiences? Kendra Cherry (2013) What is self-actualisation? Ann Olson (2013) The Theory of Self-Actualisation Hero Image: Copyright holder: ArunMash on Flickr.com, Copyright Terms and License: CC-BY-2.0 Which of the following needs are identified by McClelland's acquired needs theory?McClelland's acquired needs theory suggests three main categories of needs: need for achievement, need for affiliation, and need for power. We all have a dominant motivator, and each of the motivators, in particular achievement, can be learned.
Which are elements of self motivation in the career readiness?Four factors are necessary to build the strongest levels of self-motivation: Self-confidence and self-efficacy. Positive thinking, and positive thinking about the future. Focus and strong goals.
What are the needs identified by McClelland as the basis for motivation choose every correct answer?McClelland's Three Needs Theory
David McClelland's motivation theory of management suggests that each person has three basic needs: the need for power, achievement, or affiliation.
What type of motivation occurs when success is recognized and rewarded by other people?In extrinsic motivation, rewards or other incentives — like praise, fame, or money — are used as motivation for specific activities. Unlike intrinsic motivation, external factors drive this form of motivation. Being paid to do a job is an example of extrinsic motivation.
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